Ignition means for cooking apparatus and the like



v Filed Sept. 25, 1967' Aug. 19, 1969 c. o. BRANSON ETA!- 3,452,234

. IGNITION MEANS FOR COOKING APPARATUS AND THE LIKE s Sheets-Sheet x BY 2 y v THEIR ATTORNEYS c. D. BRANSON ET IGNITION MEANS FOR COOKING APPARATUS mm wng LIKE Filed Sept. 25; 1967 a Sheet-Sheet 2 INVENTORS CHARLES D. BRANSON FRANCIS SYGENBAUFFE THEIR ATTORNEYS Filed Sept. 25, 1967' D. BRANSON ETAL 3,462,234 IGNITION MEANS FOR COOKING APPARATUS AND THE LIKE v 5 Sheets-Sheet. -5

Aug. 19, 1969,

I l I 1 I INVENTORS CHARLES D. BRANSON FRANCIS SGENBAUFFE v THEIR ATTORNEYS 74 123 7219 I), I?) I!) 9/ T v 7n United States Patent 3,462,234 IGNITION MEANS FOR COOKING APPARATUS AND THE LIKE Charles D. Branson, Greensburg, and Francis S. Genbauife, Irwin, Pa., assignors to Robertshaw Controls Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 25, 1967, Ser. No. 670,308 Int. Cl. F23q 7/12, 3/00; F24c 3/10 US. Cl. 431-255 20 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to an ignition means for the pilot burner means of the main burner means of a cooking apparatus or the like by creating electrical sparks at the pilot burner means, the sparks being created by the altering of the stresses in piezoelectrical crystal means that is rocked relative to the supporting structure. In addition, such rocking of the crystal means is created by a push button member mounted on the cooking apparatus that can be concentrically mounted in a selector dial which can selectively interconnect a source of fuel to the pilot burner means whereby the pilot burner means can be turned off when the cooking apparatus is not being utilized.

This invention relates to improved ignition means for a cooking apparatus or the like.

It is well known that many cooking apparatus of the fuel burning variety have an individual pilot burner means for each main burner thereof whether the main burner is disposed in the oven or on the top of the cooking apparatus, the pilot burner means being continuously burning burners and when adversely put out because of air currents or the like, the same must be reignited by the housewife or the like utilizing matches and the like.

However, according to the teachings of this invention, ignition means are provided for such a pilot burner means wherein the housewife or the like can initiate the actuation of the ignition means completely remote from the pilot burner means while igniting the pilot burner means in a simple and effective manner.

In particular, the ignition means of this invention includes piezoelectric crystal means that when actuated by the housewife or the like will have the stresses therein altered in such a manner that the same will cause sparking at the pilot burner means to ignite the same.

In addition, such ignition means of this invention can be utilized in combination with a selector means for selectively directing the flow of fuel to the pilot burner means so that the pilot burner means can be completely turned off when the cooking apparatus is not being utilized so that a cold apparatus will be provided as will be apparent hereinafter.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved ignition means for a cooking apparatus or the like, the ignition means of this invention having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an ignition means for a cooking apparatus or the like in combination with a selector means for directing fuel to the burner means, such combination having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the cooking apparatus utilizing the ignition means of this invention.

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FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of certain of the parts of the ignition means of this invention.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged schematic view of the ignition means for the cooking apparatus of FIGURE 1, with certain parts being shown in cross section, FIGURE 3 being taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 and shows the ignition means in another operating position thereof.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of the ignition means of FIGURE 3 and is taken on line 5-5 thereof.

FIGURE 6 is an exploded perspective view of the piezoelectric stack arrangement of the ignition means of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 and illustrates another embodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary top schematic view of a cooking apparatus or the like illustrating another embodiment of this invention.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter described and illustrated as being particularly adaptable for providing ignition means for a cooking apparatus, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof to provide ignition means for other apparatus as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the cooking apparatus is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and has the conventional oven opened and closed by a door means 11, the apparatus 10 including a plurality of top burner means 12, 13, 14 and 15 for range top cooking purposes and the like.

Each top burner means 12, 13, 14 and 15 is individually selectively controlled by respective rotatable selector knobs 16, 17, 18 and 19 so that when a particular selector knob is turned to an on position thereof, the same will direct fuel to its associated main burner means in a conventional manner to be ignited by a continuously burning pilot burner means associated therewith. For example, individual pilot burner means 20, 21, 22 and 23 are illustrated in FIGURE 1 as being respectively associated with the main top burner means 12, 13, 14 and 15. However, should one or more pilot burners of the cooking apparatus 10 be extinguished for any reason, spark igniting means of this invention is provided for the apparatus 10 and is generally indicated by the reference numeral 24 in FIGURES 26 and will not be described.

The spark igniting means 24 comprises a support member 25 suitably mounted to the frame structure 27 of the cooking apparatus 10 so that a push button or manual actuator 28 of the ignition means 24 will be exposed in any suitable location on the apparatus 10, the embodiment of the ignition means 24 illustrated in FIGURE 1 having the push button means 28 located on the control panel means 29 of the apparatus 10 along with the selector knobs 16-19 thereof.

A frame member 30 is rotatably mounted to the stationary support member 25 by receiving a cam member 31 at the lower end of a recess or cutout 32 in the frame member 30-, the cam member 31 having an irregularly shaped extension 33 being secured in a like irregularly shaped slot 34 in an end leg 35 of the stationary support member 25. The cam member 31 has an enlarged disc member 36 at the other end thereof provided with inwardly directed hemispherical abutments 37 to respectively bear against one side 38 of the frame 30 while urging the other side 39 thereof against similar inwardly facing hemispherical abutments 40 on the leg 35 of the support 25 whereby the frame 30 is stacked between the anti-friction abutments 37 and 40 to permit pivoting or rocking movement transversely relative thereto as illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4.

The cam member 31 as illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4 has a generally true circular cross-sectional surface 41 concentrically disposed about the longitudinal axis 42 of the cam member 31 and a chordal cross-sectional surface 43 that joins the circular surface 41 to define corners 44 and 45 for a purpose hereinafter described. The circular surface 41 of the cam member 31 bears against a flat end wall 46 of the frame 30 at the lower end of the cutout 32 thereof for a purpose hereinafter described.

The upper end of the frame 30 has an outwardly directed fuel supply conduits and other conventional grounding tongue-like portion 26 received in a compatible recess 47 in the right-hand end 48 of the push button or plunger 28 as illustrated in FIGURE 3, the push button 28 passing concentrically through an opening 49 formed in the control panel frame means 27 and an opening 50 through a retaining ring means 51. The retaining ring means 51 and concentrically disposed push button or plunger 28 are respectively received in an opening 52 formed in the upper end 53 of the support member 25, the support member 25 having outwardly direct spring fingers 54 to retain the retaining ring 51 in position.

The frame 30 has one or more piezoelectric crystal elements carried in a stacked relation in the recess or cutout 32 thereof in a longitudinally arranged condition between the opposed ends 55 and 56 of the frame 30. In the embodiment of the igniter means 24 illustrated in FIGURES 2-6, only one such crystal element 57 is being utilized to provide ignition means for the pilot burner mean 20 and 21 of the main burner means 12 and 13. Of course, it is to be understood that another crystal element similar to element 57 could be disposed in stacked relation with the element 57 while being insulated therefrom to provide ignition means for the pilot burner means 22 and 23 of the main burner means 14 and 15, if desired.

Alternately, the single crystal element 57 of the igniter means 24 illustrated in FIGURES 2-6 could be utilized in a top burner arrangement as illustrated in FIGURE 8 wherein the cooking apparatus is generally indicated by the reference numeral A and includes four top burner means 12A, 13A, 14A and A and only two pilot burner means A and 21A to provide ignition means for all four top burner means 12A-15A. In particular, the pilot burner 20A when lit can provide the ignition means for the main burner means 12A and 13A by respective flash tube means 58 and 59 in a manner well known in the art. Similarly, the pilot burner means 21A will provide the ignition means for the main burner means 14A and 15A by respective flash tube means 60 and 61.

In addition, other flash tube means 62 illustrated in FIGURE 8 can cooperate with the pilot burner means 20A to provide ignition means for the main burner means in the oven of the cooking apparatus 10A, if desired, whereby it can be seen that the single crystal element 57 of the igniter means 24 illustrated in FIGURE 3 can provide the sole pilot burner ignition means for the entire cooking apparatus, if desired.

Referring again to FIGURE 3, the crystal element 57 has a pair of electrical terminals 63 and 64 disposed at the opposed ends 65 and 66 thereof and being electrically insulated from the frame by an incapsulating tubular, insulating member or housing 67 and insulators 68 and 69 respectively disposed against and outboard of the terminals 63 and 64. The terminals 63 and 64 are electrically interconnected by suitable insulated leads 70 and 71 to electrodes 72 and 73 respectively electrically insulated from the main frame 27 of the cooking apparatus 10 and disposed adjacent the pilot burner means 20 and 21 to define respective spark gaps 74 and 75 therewith.

In particular, the pilot burner means 20 and 21 are formed of metallic material and are therefore interconnected to a ground potential as indicated by the reference numeral 76 in FIGURE 3 because the main frame 27 of the cooking apparatus 10 is grounded by the conventional means well known in the art. Thus, the pilot burner means 20 and 21 respectively provide ground electrodes cooperating with the electrodes 72 and 73 to define the spark gaps 74and 75 respectively adjacent the fuel outlet means 77 and 78 of the pilot burner means 20 and 21 for a purpose hereinafter described. 7

A pair of substantially rectangularly shaped metallic anvils or pressure pads 79 and 80 are respectively disposed outboard of the insulators 68 and 69 in aligned relation therewith and may be spaced from suchinsulators 68 and 69 byaluminum containing flexible discs 81 and 82. The anvil 80 has a flat end surface 83 that bear against the fiat chordal surface 44 of the cam member 4 1 in such a manner that the longitudinal axis of the stack of elements 79, 81, 68, '63, 57, 64, 69, 82 and 80 substantially bisects the corner 45 of the cam member 31 for a purpose that will be apparent hereinafter.

A pair of wedge-shaped members 84 and 85 are respectively disposed in stacked relation between the flat end surface 86 of the anvil 79 and an arcuate end surface 87 of an inwardly directed tongue of the frame 30 whereby the entire stack of elements between the surface 87 of the frame 30 and the fiat chordal surface 34 of the cam member31 are held in compressed longitudinal arrangement with the cam member 31 itself being held in such compressed longitudinal arrangement against the fiat end wall 46 of the frame 30 to rotatably mount the frame 30 to the stationary support member 25 in the manner previously described.

In addition, a bowed spring member 89 is carried by the frame 30 and has outward ends 90 clipped to the frame 30 at the recess or cutout 32 thereof. The spring 89 has a central opening 91 receiving the tongue 88 of the frame 30, the bowed spring member 89 having a lower surface 92 continuously bearing against the upper wedge member 84.to tend to maintain the stack of elements in the aligned longitudinal arrangement illustrated in FIG- URE 3.

The operation of the igniting means 24 for the cooking apparatus 10-will now be described.

When the housewife or the like notices that one of the burner means 12 and 13 in FIGURE 3 does not ignite when she turns on one of the respective main selector knobs 16 or 17, or when she actually notices that one of the pilot burner means 20 or 21 is not burning, she can merely push inwardly on the push button or plunger 28 to effect a rocking of the frame 30 relative to the stationary support 25 and thereby alter the stresses in the crystal element 57 in a manner hereinafter set forth so that one potential will be created at the electrode 72 and an equal and opposite potential will be created at the electrode 73. When the differences in potential between the electrodes 72 and 73 and their respective grounded electrodes 20 and 21 reach a particular magnitude, electrical arcing or sparking will be created across the spark gaps 74 and in substantially a simultaneous manner whereby such electrical sparking will ignite the fuel issuing from any unlit pilot burner means 20 or 21.

In particular, as the housewife or the like pushes inwardly on the push button plunger 28, the frame 30 begins to pivot in a clockwise direction as illustrated in FIGURE 4 because the flat surface 46 of the frame 30 will rock on the arcuate or circular surface 41 of the stationary cam member 31 as illustrated in FIGURE 4 to permit such clockwise movement of the frame 30. Such clockwise movement of the frame 30 causes the flat surface 83 of the lower anvil to rock on the corner 45 of the cam member 31 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4 whereby the effective length of the cam member 31 between the end surface 83 of the anvil 80 and the flat surface 46 of the frame 30 increases to effect a longitudinal compressing or squeezing action on the crystal element 57 between its opposed ends 65 and 66 substantially along the longitudinal axis thereof whereby the altering of the stresses in the crystal element 57 will create the aforementioned sparking at the spark gap 74 and 75. Such inward movement of the push rod or plunger 28 to effect the stressing or squeezing action on the crystal element 57 will produce the above described sparking one or more times at the spark gaps 74 and 75 depending upon the length of inward movement of the push rod or plunger 28. Also, releasing of the inward push force on the plunger 28 will cause the frame 30 to pivot back from the position illustrated in FIGURE 4 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 by the force of the expanding crystal means 57 so that the effective length of the cam member 31 progressively decreases and thereby permits the crystal element 57 to longitudinally expand. Such subsequent relieving of the compressing or squeezing action on the crystal 57 also alters the stresses therein to effect sparking at the spark gaps 74 and 75 one or more times on the return of the push rod or plunger 28 to its full out position as illustrated in FIGURE 3.

While it is believed that merely one actuation of the push rod or plunger 28 will effectively light any unlit pilot burner means 20 or 21, a mere repetitive pushing action of the housewife or the like on the plunger 28 will more than assure that any unlit pilot burner means 20 or 21 will be effectively lit by the sparking created by the crystal means 57.

Therefore, it can be seen that by arranging the crystal means 57 in the manner previously described either for the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 3 or the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 8, the single crystal element 57 is adapted to effectively ignite a plurality of pilot burner means so that a relatively inexpensive ignition means will be provided for the apparatus 10.

While the cooking apparatus and 10A previously described normally have continuously burning pilot burner means for the main burners thereof whereby the ignition means 24 previously described is utilized for igniting such pilot burner means when the same have become non-burning for one reason or another, it has been found that the ignition means of this invention is readily adaptable to cooperate with a manual selector means that controls the flow of fuel to the pilot burner means whereby a cold cooking apparatus or cold top cooking apparatus can be provided wherein the pilot burner means need not be burning when the cooking apparatus is not in use and can be selectively turned on and ignited by the housewife or the like only when the cooking apparatus is to be utilized.

For example, another embodiment of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 24B in FIGURE 7 and parts thereof similar to the ignition means 24 previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter B.

As illustrated in FIGURE 7, the ignition means 24B includes a frame member 30B substantially identical to the frame member 30 previously described and carrying a single crystal element stack means for sparking at the spark gaps 74B and 75B of FIGURE 7 in the same manner previously described when the frame means 30B is rocked relative to the stationary support member 25B. However, the support member 25B of the ignition means 24B can be directly secured to a valve housing 93 that is directly mounted to the fuel supply manifold 94 of the desired cooking apparatus. Alternately, or additionally, the support member 25B can be modified to be secured to the main frame means 27B of the cooking apparatus as illustrated.

In any event, the valve housing 93 defines a plug valve receiving surface 95 being interrupted by three ports 96, 97 and 98, the port 96 being in fluid communication with the fuel supply manifold means 94 and the ports 97 and 98 being respectively in fluid communication with the pilot burner means 20B and 21B by suitable conduit means 99 and 100.

A plug valve member 101 is rotatably mounted against the valve surface of the valve housing 93 and is provided with three ports 102, 103 and 104 interrupting the exterior surface 105 of the valve member 101 and being disposed in fluid communication with each other by suitable passage means 106 formed in the plug valve member 101. The ports 102, 103 and 104 of the plug valve member 101 are so constructed and arranged that when the plug valve 101 is rotated to an on position thereof by a selector dial means or knob 107 suitably interconnected to the valve member 101 in any desired manner, the port 102 of the valve member 101 is disposed in fluid communication with the fuel supply port 96 and the outlet ports 103 and 104 of the valve member 101 are in fluid communication with the pilot burner ports 97 and 98 in the housing 93 so that fuel will be directed from the supply manifold 94 to the outlet means 77B and 78B of the pilot burner means 20B and 21B. Conversely, when the selector dial or knob 107 is turned to an off position thereof as illustrated in FIGURE 7, the fuel supply mani fold 94 is disconnected from the pilot burner means 20B and 21B so that no fuel can issue from their respective outlet means 77B and 78B.

The push button or plunger means 28B is concentrically mounted in the selector dial 107 in a manner similar to the plunger 28 and ring means 51 of the ignition means 24 of FIGURE 3 and has a rod-like extension 108 projecting centrally through the plug valve member 101 and housing means 93 so that an end 109 thereof will bear against the frame 30B whereby inward pushing on the push button or plunger 28B will cause rocking of the frame 303 in the manner similar to the frame 30 by the plunger 28 as previously described.

Therefore, it can be seen that the ignition means 24B illustrated in FIGURE 7 provides a unique arrangement wherein flow of fuel to the pilot burner means 20B and 21B can be turned off by the housewife or the like operating the selector 107 when it is desired not to utilize the cooking apparatus whereby such cooking apparatus can remain in a cold condition until the housewife or the like desires to utilize the same.

In particular, when the housewife or the like desires to utilize one of the main burner means 12B or 13B illustrated in FIGURE 7, the housewife or the like can turn the selector means 107 to its on position so that fuel will be directed to the outlet means 77B and 78B of the pilot burner means 20B and 21B to be ignited by the sparking created at the spark gaps 74B and 75B when the housewife subsequently pushes inwardly on the push button or plunger means 28B in the manner previously described.

While the various ignition means of this invention have been described as igniting pilot burner means for the cooking apparatus, it is to be understood that such ignition means can be utilized to directly ignite the main burner means of the cooking apparatus or the like without utilizing intermediate pilot burner means therefor.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. Ignition means for a cooking apparatus or the like having burner means and comprising stationary support means carrying cam means, frame means movably carried by said support means and carrying piezoelectric crystal means, said frame means having opposed end means, said crystal means cooperating with said cam means at one end means of said frame means, actuator means carried by said support means and being operatively interconnected to the other end means of said frame means to move said frame means relative to said support means when said actuator means is actuated, and spark gap means for said burner means and being operatively interconnected to said crystal means whereby movement of said frame means relative to said support means by said actuator means causes said crystal means to move relative to said cam means and have the stresses thereof altered by said cam means and thereby produce sparking at said spark gap means to tend to ignite said burner means.

2. Ignition means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuator includes a manually movable push button means.

3. Ignition means as set forth in claim 2 wherein said push button means directly engages said frame means to move said frame means relative to said support means.

4. Ignition means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said frame means is pivotally mounted to said support ,means to move about an axis of rotation.

5. Ignition means as set forth in claim 4 wherein said cam means has a center axis parallel to said axis of rotation of said frame means while being offset relative thereto.

6. Ignition means for a cooking apparatus or the like having burner means and comprising stationary support means carrying cam means, frame means movably carried by said support means and carrying piezoelectric crystal means, said crystal means cooperating with said cam means, actuator means carried by said support means and being operatively interconnected to said frame means to move said frame means relative to said support means when said actuator means is actuated, and spark gap means for said burner means and being operatively interconnected to said crystal means whereby movement of said frame means relative to said support means by said actuator means causes said crystal means to move relative to said cam means and have the stresses thereof altered by said cam means and thereby produce sparking at said spark gap means to tend to ignite said burner means, said frame means being pivotally mounted to said support means to move about an axis of rotation, said cam means having a center axis parallel to said axis of rotation of said frame means while being offset relative thereto, said crystal means having a longitudinal axis that is radially disposed relative to said axis of rotation of said frame means, said cam means having a circular cross-sectional configuration concentric with said center axis and a fiat chordal cross-sectional surface that defines two corners with said circular configuration, one of said corners being bisected by said longitudinal axis of said crystal means.

7. Ignition means for a cooking apparatus or the like having burner means and comprising stationary support means carrying cam means, frame means movably carried by said support means and carrying piezoelectric crystal means, said crystal means cooperating with said cam means, actuator means carried by said support means and being operatively interconnected to said frame means to move said frame means relative to said support means when said actuator means is actuated, and spark gap means for said burner means and being operatively interconnected to said crystal means whereby movement of said frame means relative to said support means by said actuator means causes said crystal means to move relative to said cam means and have the stresses thereof altered by said cam means and thereby produce sparking at said spark gap means to tend to ignite said burner means, said burner means comprising two burners, said spark gap means comprising two spark gap means respectively for said burners, said crystal means comprising a single crystal element for sparking at said two spark gaps substantially simultaneously.

8. Ignition means as set forth in claim 7 wherein said two burners are pilot burner means, said burner means including two main burners respectively disposed in ignition relationship to said pilot burners to be ignited thereby.

9. Ignition means as set forth in claim 8 and including a source of fuel, passage defining means for interconnecting said source of fuel to said pilot burners, and selector means for selectively opening and closing said passage defining means.

10. Ignition means as set forth in claim 9 wherein said selector means comprises a knob means rotatably mounted to said apparatus, said actuator means com prises a push button means movably mounted to said apparatus and being concentrically mounted in said knob means. I

11. Ignition means for a cooking apparatus or the like having main burner means and pilot burner means associated therewith for igniting said main burner means and comprising passage defining means for interconnecting a source of fuel to said pilot burner means, manually operated selector means for opening and closing said passage defining means to respectively direct fuel to said pilot burner means and to prevent the flow of fuel to said pilot burner means, piezoelectric crystal means for creating sparks at said pilot burner means to ignite fuel issuing therefrom when said selector means is in a position to maintain said passage defining means in an open condition, and movable actuator means carried by said selector means while being operable independently of said selector means for. altering the stresses in said crystal means to create said sparks.

12. Ignition means .as set forth in claim 11 wherein said main burner means comprises a plurality of main burners. I

13. Ignition means as set forth in claim 12 wherein said pilot burner means comprises a plurality of pilot burners.

14. Ignition means for a cooking apparatus or the like having main burner means and pilot burner means associated therewith for igniting said main burner means and comprising passage defining means for interconnecting a source of fuel to said pilot burner means, manually. operated selector means for opening and closing said passage defining means to respectively direct fuel to said pilot burner means and to prevent the How of fuel to said pilot burner means, piezoelectric crystal means for creating sparks at said pilot burner means to ignite fuel issuing therefrom when said selector means is in a position to maintain said passage defining means in an open condition, and actuator means for altering the stresses in said crystal means to create said sparks, said main burner means comprising a plurality of main burners, said pilot burner means comprising a plurality of pilot burners, said crystal means comprising a single crystal element for creating said sparks at two of said pilot burners in substantially 'a simultaneous manner.

15. Ignition means as set forth in claim 11 wherein said selector means and said actuator means are secured together to provide a self-contained unit.

16. Ignition means as set forth in claim 15 wherein said actuator means comprises a push button means.

17. Ignition means as set forth in claim 16 wherein said selector means includes a rotatably mounted dial means.

18. Ignition means for a cooking apparatus or the like having main burner means and pilot burner means associated therewith for igniting said main burner means and comprising passage defining means for interconnecting a source of fuel to said pilot burner means, manually oper ated selector means for opening and closing said passage defining means to respectively direct fuel to said pilot burner means and to prevent the flow of fuel to said pilot burner means, piezoelectric crystal means for creating sparks at said pilot burner means to ignite fuel issuing therefrom when said selector means is in a. position to m-aintain said passage defining means in an open condition, and actuator means for altering the stresses in said crystal means to create said sparks, said selector means and said actuator means being secured together to provide a self-contained unit, said actuator means comprise ing a push button means, said selector means including a rotatably mounted dial means, said push button means being concentrically disposed in said dial means. p

19. Ignition means for a cooking apparatus or the like having main burner means and pilot burner means associated therewith for igniting said main burner means and comprising passage defining means for interconnecting a source of fuel to said pilot burner means, manually operated selector means for opening and closing said passage defining means to respectively direct fuel to said pilot burner means and to prevent the flow of fuel to said pilot burner means, piezoelectric crystal means for creating sparks at said .pilot burner means to ignite fuel issuing therefrom when said selector means is in a position to maintain said passage defining means in an open condition, and actuator means for altering the stresses in said crystal means to create said sparks, said selector means and said actuator means being secured together to provide a self-contained unit, said actuator means comprising a push button means, said selector means including a rotatably mounted dial means, said selector means including a valve member interconnected to said dial means.

20. Ignition means for a cooking apparatus or the like having main burner means and pilot burner means associated therewith for igniting said main burner means and comprising passage defining means for interconnecting a source of fuel to said pilot burner means, manually operated selector means for opening and closing said passage defining means to respectively direct fuel to said pilot burner means and to prevent the flow of fuel to said pilot burner means, piezoelectric crystal means for creating sparks at said pilot burner means to ignite fuel References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,136,355 7/1964 Weber 431255 X 3,255,803 6/1966 Hach et a1. 431255 X 3,364,393 1/1968 Rabe 315 FREDERICK L. MATTESON, JR., Primary Examiner E. G. FAVORS, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

